Carnival cruise entertainment

Last night we got into a discussion with friends and family about cruise line entertainment, specifically Carnival cruise entertainment. It was a active and fairly long discussion with lots of interesting points and observations. So much so, I thought it might be a good topic here. What do you value ion cruise line entertainment? How do you think Carnival is doing in this areas?

I've been on two cruises now and have yet to see one of the big production shows. We've enjoyed the Love and Marriage show and the adult comedy shows were OK (not great but good enough for the alcohol to let us chuckle a few times). We were entertained by trivia contests, Bingo games and casino stuff.

But I do want to see the productions. I enjoy being entertained and I like well-choreographed dance numbers and I don't expect a cruise ship to offer live bands and actual singing (I assume there is a lot of recorded stuff going on - at least canned back-up singing even if the main performer is live) and I don't mind most kinds of music so there should be something I like at most every show - we just haven't had a chance yet to fit it in - either we were too tired from excursions or had other things going on when the shows were going on.

I'll have 8 days next year to get to one or more though so hopefully the Miracle has some nifty high-steppin' and lip syncin'.

I never got to see the big production numbers of old so I won't know what I'm missing lol.

I miss the big productin shows. Don't care for the flashing lights, background video. Seem to be trying to please the younger crowd who require rapid stimulation, those who might be on their phone games while the show is going on.

The shows are OK. I take them for what they are. 45 minutes of people singing and dancing. I'm fine with it, but it doesn't wow me.

I like it when they have a special entertainer like a magician or singer to break things up.

What I truly love are the comedians. I haven't seen one yet who stunk. Some nights, I'll go to three shows. That is by far the best entertainment for me.

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I personally don't care for the Playlist Production Shows. I haven't seen one yet that was worth sitting all the way through. After about the first five or ten minutes, I'm ready to get up and leave. But that's just me. If you're desperate for entertainment, and have about an hour to waste, give the shows a try. Then come back on here after your cruise and tell us what you think.

The last cruise I was on, the stage shows were pretty bad. The talent unfortunately was lacking and in some portions of the show it reminded me of a high school musical. I would like to see a more Vegas level show, but frankly Carnival is not going to pay for that, so if shows are important to us, we have to move up to a more expensive cruise line.

The shows are OK. I take them for what they are. 45 minutes of people singing and dancing. I'm fine with it, but it doesn't wow me.

 

I like it when they have a special entertainer like a magician or singer to break things up.

 

What I truly love are the comedians. I haven't seen one yet who stunk. Some nights, I'll go to three shows. That is by far the best entertainment for me.

 

 

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Agreed! The comedians WOW me! We do go to both Adult shows at night and sometimes the PG one as well. I like to end the night with a good laugh!

I miss the old Las Vegas style shows. They just seemed more well put together than the current playlist productions; I understand Carnival had their reasons for switching but they downgraded in my opinion.

After 14 cruises in the last 8 years the only shows we really enjoyed were on the Dream, which I imagine are gone now that they did the 2.0 upgrades in drydock. The comedy shows have been the best part of the entertainment offerings. The DJ's should all be thrown overboard for the lousy music played outside the dance clubs, keep that stuff for the disco people.

We love the Playlist Productions. We hate the stage shows, too amateurish and poor production.

We love the Comedians! Nothing bad to say about them.

What we like the best though is the live music available all over the ships. The only cruise that was lacking was the Alaska Legend group... every act had the same playlist and played the same songs every freakin day. They weren't bad, just zero variety. Other than that, every ship has had a country solo or group, a rock band, and another genre.

Last trip (Liberty) was great as there was a duo from Domican Republic, great latin music and seemed to draw a crowd to dance everywhere they played. There was also a girl country duo who were fantastic. Our son, 27yr old and on his first cruise, was absolutely amazed at the music variety. Rock band that played mostly in casino was also very good. He finally gets why we enjoy cruising... live music and someone to cook for me 24/7!

I don't like the Playlist Production shows, but on the Splendor in July, they had the best dancers, singers, and performers. They were amazing! All of them had beautiful voices.

I sailed on the Victory in December and the still had the stage production shows which I love.